FIRE IN LOCKED ROOM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3217, 13 May 1911, Page 3

FIRE IN LOCKED ROOM.

LITTLE BOY’S PRESENCE OF MIND

An example of presence of mind on the part of a little boy was described recently at an inquest at Hammei - smith on the body oi Frederick Ernest Osmond Couldrey. aged seven, whose parents live at Fulham. Evidence was given that Mrs Coul-df-ey went shopping on a recent- Saturand locked tne boy and three younger children in a back room downstairs. where there was no fire. V line she was away, according to the story told later by' one- of the younger children, the boy Frederick began playing with matches and set his clothes on fire. He at once told the others to get. near the deer away from the flames and he himself jumped on to the bed and tried' to put out the- fire. There were two other children on an upper floor and they began to scream,, presumably being frightened by. the smoke. A man named Hartshoren, of Pellant Road, entered the house through a window and got them out, and then learnt of the children locked in the room upstairs. He burst open the door and found the bed and curtains on fire. Three of the children were lying in a •emi-conscious state, near the door, and after taking them out Hartshorn returned and found the boy Frederick, badly burned, lying on the bed. The lad died later from the shock of the burns.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental) death, and added a rider commending the bravery of Hartshorn.